The linear dichroism spectra of acenaphtho[1,2-k]fluoranthene, 7,14-diphenylacenaphtho[1,2-k]fluoranthene, and 7,1 4-dicarbethoxyacenaphtho[1,2-k]fluoranthene in stretched polyethylene sheet at room temperature were measured. The electronic transition energies and transition moment directions were computed by semiempirical PPP SCF CI and ZINDO calculations and compared to the experimentally determined values. A high degree of similarity to the electronic transitions in fluoranthene is found. At least six electronic transitions are assigned on the basis of the linear dichroism spectra. The phenyl and carbethoxy substituents produce only a minor perturbation of the experimental spectroscopic transitions. These results are consistent with data that show that the orthogonality of the substituents prohibits their significant conjugation with the parent molecule. The orientation of the compounds in the stretched sheet is discussed.